Glossary
Weight Transfer Explained: Formula, Lateral vs Longitudinal & Setup Effects
Weight transfer (more precisely load transfer) is the change in vertical load on each tyre caused by acceleration, braking and cornering. Total transfer is fixed by physics: lateral transfer = a_y × W × h ÷ t and longitudinal transfer = a_x × W × h ÷ wheelbase. Setup cannot change the total, only how it is distributed between front and rear in cornering and how fast it happens, and those two levers are what balance tuning is built on.
| Condition | Transfer | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 g cornering | 405 kg | Inside to outside tyres |
| 1.3 g braking | 260 kg | Rear to front axle |
| 0.6 g acceleration | 120 kg | Front to rear axle |
Lateral load transfer distribution
The fraction of lateral transfer carried by the front axle is roughly the front share of total roll stiffness (springs plus bars), adjusted for the roll centre heights and the unsprung mass. Push more of the transfer to the front and the front tyres saturate first: understeer. This single relationship explains why stiffer front springs or bars add understeer and stiffer rear ones add oversteer.
Transient transfer
The part of transfer carried through the suspension links (geometric transfer) is instantaneous; the part carried through the springs is delayed because the body has to roll or pitch first, and the dampers set that delay. On turn-in the front loads up while the rear is still unloading from braking, which is why damper settings change how the car feels in the first half-second of a corner.
Frequently asked questions
Do stiffer springs reduce weight transfer?
No. They reduce body roll and pitch, which changes how the transfer is split between axles and how fast it happens, but the total transfer for a given g is unchanged.
Why does widening the track help?
Transfer is inversely proportional to track width. A 5% wider track means 5% less lateral load transfer and therefore more total grip.
What is unsprung weight transfer?
The portion of lateral transfer caused by the unsprung mass (wheels, brakes, uprights) acting at its own CG height. It bypasses the springs entirely and cannot be tuned with setup.
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